☰L'Illa del Diagonal

L'Illa Diagonal is a large shopping mall on the upper stretch of Avinguda Diagonal, designed by architects Rafael Moneo and Manuel de Solà-Morales and opened in 1993. The building runs 350 metres along the boulevard, its low, horizontal profile a deliberate contrast to the tall towers nearby. Inside you'll find department stores including El Corte Inglés, a supermarket, a sports megastore, and around 100 smaller shops. It's functional rather than glamorous, but the architecture is worth a look, and the food hall in the basement is a practical stop after a long walk up the Diagonal.